Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-11-29
MARK TwAln.s DOCTOR.
orb.o.. tha Original of tho Medical Man
In "InIocents Abroad."

otbson. tha Original OF tho Medical Man
In "Innocents Abroad."
Dr. William Nj. Gibson. who died In
Jamestown. Pa. not long ago. was the
oriclnal Of Tho Doctor In Mark
Twain's .lnnocents Abroad" d. A.
r. .avcs Jackson, formerly OF Strands
hnrr. P,., now of Chicago. who was u
member of the excursion party. has
bcen widely credited with baing the
original of tho character,
II had it from tho lirs OF Mark
Twain himself" saws prominent rosi-
dent of this city. ";hat DR.. Gibson was
the doctor of tho story. | was edi'-
mo tho Time, at Sharon. Morcar Coun-
ty, Mt that limo. 1t was ten years ago.
Mark Twain cam, to that place to lect-
ure and II, md bacamo very well
ooo,,aintcd. Some time aftcrward he
70 urncl to Sharon and spent several
DAYS with me. gave II dinner in his
honor, and invited IL number II promi-
ucnt ctiz ms to meet him. Surprising
"a n matter of course, that the two fol.
low-voyagrrs woull DO pleased TO see
nne another and recount incidents oil
their lrip, invited d.. Gibson also, hi !
residence being but few miloS from
Sl,ron. told Twain that | had in
yitcd tho doctor expecting to DO TO-
ward ID with great approval from the
great humorist. o. the contrary, he
idn't look Lit glad, end shaking his
head said in that mirth-provokin9
drawl of his:
"'Wcl, that's all right. l suppose.
but dont know how Gibson and
will got along together. We don
speak.
| "lhrt was n ct-bac'l for mo. and
the only hop, had was that DR. G.b-
son would be moved by the dclicacr
OF the situation. and stay away. Bat
no didn't. II, clmc rs big rs life.
II, diln't speak to Twain. and
Twain didn't speak to him. The
consequence wal that what l had
counted on to DO one If tho most de-
liyh fd and enjoyable of occ ,sions.
and ono long TO DO rcmcm-
bcred with pleasure by my follow
ciizcns an myself. was stup;o
beyond description. The doctor's
presence cast damper on the vhole
proceeding, although hc was com.
Fashionable and desirable person t,
have in any gathering Mark Twain
made no speech and sail nothing
funny. Two or three OF my friend,
tried to throw q little spirit into The
% ,Sion BY neat speeches and happy
illusions but it was Of no use. The
dinner was failure. and we ar,st
from the tablc-at least did-fcelinc
rs if the parry had been funeral ant
that we were the chief mourners.
Twain afterward told me what thu
lroubl, was between him and tbs doc
tor As il is related in tho 'Innocents
Abroad on one 0ct q 'iol during the
trip committee was appointed Il
PRESENT az addr 'ss to the CT l. of r u.s.
sin. Mlrk Twain wrote the address
and gave it to the committee to copy
The comm &C tore it all to pieces will
Changes of their own. Subsequently,
he doctor went to iva ana made
modest suggestion.
"Iet nc take that address o
yours, he said. and I'll copy it of
FL sign my name to 1t and YOU sig,
yours, and Wen ignore the committee
and present it ourselves.
The d sintcres ed proposition wa
not accepted by the humorist, an,
when he wrote the book he gave th
doctor away bv rcla iay the incilcnt
That made Gibson angry, and h
ncvcr go over :"
The death of Dr. Gibson brings +,
mind the fact that the orr Il ,al of S.
Oracle in "lnnoccnts Abroad" wa
hen and still is resident If HarriS
burg, in the person of the II IN. jacob
$. Hidden. He WIS Minister to Sweden
u'drr President Buchanan
Dr. G,bson left for urc of 81 O0o.
00) III had just erected monumen
tn himself ut II cost OF 800. 900. =
: Harrisburg (Pa) Cor. Boston Herald